Canadian Fashion Designer's Olympic Collection Attracts Media

Canadian fashion designer Tu Ly's collection for Canadian Olympic athletes, which is being sold at Canadian department stores, "has become a target of derision among newspapers, bloggers, Canadian talk-show hosts, and sports pundits," according to Christopher Muther of the BOSTON GLOBE. The "specific pieces that have Canadians talking are pants and hoodies that are made from a fabric print that Ly calls 'urban camouflage.'" The red pattern incorporates the Canadian maple leaf, the "number eight, which is a symbol of the Olympic games in Beijing, along with symbols culled from Chinese poster art and apocathary labels." The fabric is "used in clothes that the Canadian team will wear in the Olympic village." Elle Canada Senior Editor Laura deCarufel said of the collection, "I've heard mixed response to the uniforms, but I've heard from more people who love them than hate them. ... There are some pieces in this collection that are just lovely. You could wear it, and it doesn't look like Olympic wear." Muther notes apparel supplier Hudson's Bay Co. is "behind Canada's uniforms, which allowed [Ly] to take a different approach to his design" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/7).

DRESS TO IMPRESS: In Houston, Clifford Pugh reports the fashion competition at the Beijing Games "seems especially heated, as clothing manufacturers use the games to introduce themselves to China's vast, increasingly prosperous population." U.S. athletes' outfits were designed by Ralph Lauren and the "closing ceremony outfits and Village attire are already available at Macy's and other outlets," ranging from $49.50-165. However, athletes "won't be the only ones in designer wear." Ports 1961 "will dress four female NBC commentators for the games" -- Mary Carillo, Melissa Stark, Alex Flanagan and Lindsay Czarniak. All four "will wear casual sportswear in muted colors of gray and beige" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/7).